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At least two people killed and several seriously injured after an explosion at BASF’s Ludwigshafen, Germany site on Monday morning.

"We deeply regret the fact that employees have died and several people have been injured. Our compassion applies to those affected and their families,” says Uwe Liebelt, BASF's plant manager in Ludwigshafen.

The AP reports there was a fire in a pipeline between the area where the liquids are unloaded and storage tanks. The explosion happened after the company's fire service arrived at the scene.

"How the explosion happened is not clear at the moment," Liebelt told reporters, according to the AP. He added that it wasn't yet known what substances were involved and didn't elaborate on the identities of the victims.

As the supply of raw materials was interrupted, the steamcrackers and other plants were moved down at the site. Residents in parts of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim were advised to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed.

The Ludwigshafen complex is the headquarters of BASF and employs about 39,000 workers there.